This campaign was set up to help the Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral consider alternatives to losing the professional choir at Llandaff Cathedral. On this page you can read the press releases, comments and letters that formed part of the campaign as well as other useful information.
Contents:
Contents:
- Latest email to campaign supporters: Last chance to save the choir
- Cathedral sacks its Choir five days before Christmas
- Llandaff Choir urgently needs your help!
- Hope for Llandaff Choir!
- Media update: Media update: Campaign covered in Wales Online and BBC Wales' Good Evening Wales
- An open letter to the Archbishop of Wales and the Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral
- A letter from the ISM to the Archbishop of Wales (Thursday 14 November 2013)
- The ISM's initial response to proposals to scrap Llandaff's professional choir (Wednesday 13 November 2013)
- Llandaff Cathedral's initial press release (Monday 4 November 2013)
Latest email to campaign supporters: Last chance to save the choir
Thursday 9 January 2014
Dear Campaign Supporter,
Happy New Year and thank you for the support and good wishes you have sent the Choristers of Llandaff Cathedral Choir over the Christmas break.
Your campaigning, and the decision of the Cathedral Chapter to press ahead with their proposals – despite offers of donations – has received coverage in the Church Times, BBC TV, Radio and online, WalesOnline and The Times (latest news on the website).
The Choir members themselves have also asked us to share their gratitude at the support they have received.
We have one last chance to save the professional choir at Llandaff
The ISM members who have been made redundant have decided to appeal against the Chapter’s decision; we are supporting them through this process.
You can help them by continuing to contact the Archdeacon expressing your concern about the redundancies, your support for the appeals and asking that your message be considered as part of the appeals process.
(The official email address is [email protected].)
In particular, if you have any personal links to Llandaff Cathedral or the Diocese of Llandaff, please emphasise this in your correspondence with the Archdeacon.
We know that the necessary funding can be found to retain the cathedral choir
The Cathedral has had direct offers of funding from Wales, the UK and across the globe: from direct fundraising as well as pledges made by you (by email to [email protected]). We also know that funding for choirs such as Llandaff Cathedral Choir is available from charitable trusts.
All we ask now is for the Cathedral authorities to accept the offers of support and change its mind. This can sometimes be a difficult thing to do, but we urge them to reconsider.
Thank you once again for your help, and please continue to send messages of support and spread the word about our campaign.
Best wishes,
Henry Vann
Save Llandaff Choir Campaign Coordinator
PS Don’t forget you can email the Cathedral Authorities in support of the appeal and you can spread the word about the campaign through email, word of mouth and social media #savellandaff
Thursday 9 January 2014
Dear Campaign Supporter,
Happy New Year and thank you for the support and good wishes you have sent the Choristers of Llandaff Cathedral Choir over the Christmas break.
Your campaigning, and the decision of the Cathedral Chapter to press ahead with their proposals – despite offers of donations – has received coverage in the Church Times, BBC TV, Radio and online, WalesOnline and The Times (latest news on the website).
The Choir members themselves have also asked us to share their gratitude at the support they have received.
We have one last chance to save the professional choir at Llandaff
The ISM members who have been made redundant have decided to appeal against the Chapter’s decision; we are supporting them through this process.
You can help them by continuing to contact the Archdeacon expressing your concern about the redundancies, your support for the appeals and asking that your message be considered as part of the appeals process.
(The official email address is [email protected].)
In particular, if you have any personal links to Llandaff Cathedral or the Diocese of Llandaff, please emphasise this in your correspondence with the Archdeacon.
We know that the necessary funding can be found to retain the cathedral choir
The Cathedral has had direct offers of funding from Wales, the UK and across the globe: from direct fundraising as well as pledges made by you (by email to [email protected]). We also know that funding for choirs such as Llandaff Cathedral Choir is available from charitable trusts.
All we ask now is for the Cathedral authorities to accept the offers of support and change its mind. This can sometimes be a difficult thing to do, but we urge them to reconsider.
Thank you once again for your help, and please continue to send messages of support and spread the word about our campaign.
Best wishes,
Henry Vann
Save Llandaff Choir Campaign Coordinator
PS Don’t forget you can email the Cathedral Authorities in support of the appeal and you can spread the word about the campaign through email, word of mouth and social media #savellandaff
Cathedral sacks its Choir five days before Christmas
Friday 20 December 2013
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), the UK’s professional body for musicians, has discovered that Llandaff Cathedral plans to sack all the professional members of its Cathedral Choir just five days before Christmas. The redundancies will take effect immediately and will leave the Cathedral Choir with no altos, tenors or basses for its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
The Incorporated Society of Musicians’ (ISM) campaign to save the Llandaff Cathedral Choir recently secured an extension to the period of consultation for those at risk of redundancy, but this latest development is a devastating blow for the musicians whose livelihoods are under threat, as well as damaging to the musical life of Llandaff and Cardiff.
The ISM started a campaign in response to Llandaff Cathedral’s plans to make all the professional members of the Choir redundant and has urged the Cathedral Chapter to support a campaign of fundraising by members of the Choir. The ISM believes that fundraising is the best way to tackle the Cathedral’s deficit. In one fundraising concert held earlier this week, £1,280 was raised to support the Cathedral’s Music Department.
The Cathedral Choir, which has appeared twice on the BBC’s Songs of Praise this year, is one of the last cathedral choirs in Wales to employ professional singers.
ISM’s Head of Legal Affairs, David Abrahams, comments: ‘This is a terrible decision by the Cathedral Chapter with huge repercussions for the individuals involved and for Llandaff Cathedral. We believe that donations from supporters of the Save Llandaff Choir Campaign and the Choir’s own fundraising plans could have raised the necessary funds to keep these musicians employed.’
ISM’s Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, comments: ‘Making people redundant the week before Christmas and at the choir’s busiest time of year is a shocking decision that will do lasting damage both to the musical life and the reputation of Llandaff Cathedral. We believe that the Cathedral Chapter should reverse this short-sighted decision.’
Renowned choral director Suzi Digby OBE said: ‘This is an utterly heartbreaking decision: The cathedral chapter must reconsider its options – the importance of choral music, as we have shown time and time again through my Vocal Futures programme – is beyond dispute. Sacking a choir five days before Christmas, denying the younger children the chance to sing with professionals, and refusing to engage in real fundraising to save the choir, beggars belief.’
The musicians who have been made redundant are now considering an appeal against the Cathedral’s decision
The ISM continues to ask that people register their support for the choir at http://savellandaffchoir.weebly.com
-Ends-
For more information [email protected] 07834 431 007
About the ISM
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s professional body for musicians and largest subject association for music educators, representing the rights and views of its members and offering a distinctive range of vital services to all working in the music profession. The ISM promotes the art of music and champions the interests of the music profession with an independent voice. Members are protected with an unparalleled legal advice service and many other supporting professional benefits.
The ISM’s membership of 6,500 includes performers, composers, music educators and music industry professionals. The ISM has over 100 corporate members from across the sector including the Association of British Orchestras, Classic FM, the International Artist Managers’ Association, the Music Industries Association, NMC Recordings, the Royal Philharmonic Society, the Young Classical Artists Trust; publishers such as OUP and Schott Music; and, in the field of education, ABRSM, Trinity College London, Yamaha Music, numerous university music departments and all of the UK conservatoires.
Friday 20 December 2013
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), the UK’s professional body for musicians, has discovered that Llandaff Cathedral plans to sack all the professional members of its Cathedral Choir just five days before Christmas. The redundancies will take effect immediately and will leave the Cathedral Choir with no altos, tenors or basses for its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
The Incorporated Society of Musicians’ (ISM) campaign to save the Llandaff Cathedral Choir recently secured an extension to the period of consultation for those at risk of redundancy, but this latest development is a devastating blow for the musicians whose livelihoods are under threat, as well as damaging to the musical life of Llandaff and Cardiff.
The ISM started a campaign in response to Llandaff Cathedral’s plans to make all the professional members of the Choir redundant and has urged the Cathedral Chapter to support a campaign of fundraising by members of the Choir. The ISM believes that fundraising is the best way to tackle the Cathedral’s deficit. In one fundraising concert held earlier this week, £1,280 was raised to support the Cathedral’s Music Department.
The Cathedral Choir, which has appeared twice on the BBC’s Songs of Praise this year, is one of the last cathedral choirs in Wales to employ professional singers.
ISM’s Head of Legal Affairs, David Abrahams, comments: ‘This is a terrible decision by the Cathedral Chapter with huge repercussions for the individuals involved and for Llandaff Cathedral. We believe that donations from supporters of the Save Llandaff Choir Campaign and the Choir’s own fundraising plans could have raised the necessary funds to keep these musicians employed.’
ISM’s Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, comments: ‘Making people redundant the week before Christmas and at the choir’s busiest time of year is a shocking decision that will do lasting damage both to the musical life and the reputation of Llandaff Cathedral. We believe that the Cathedral Chapter should reverse this short-sighted decision.’
Renowned choral director Suzi Digby OBE said: ‘This is an utterly heartbreaking decision: The cathedral chapter must reconsider its options – the importance of choral music, as we have shown time and time again through my Vocal Futures programme – is beyond dispute. Sacking a choir five days before Christmas, denying the younger children the chance to sing with professionals, and refusing to engage in real fundraising to save the choir, beggars belief.’
The musicians who have been made redundant are now considering an appeal against the Cathedral’s decision
The ISM continues to ask that people register their support for the choir at http://savellandaffchoir.weebly.com
-Ends-
For more information [email protected] 07834 431 007
About the ISM
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s professional body for musicians and largest subject association for music educators, representing the rights and views of its members and offering a distinctive range of vital services to all working in the music profession. The ISM promotes the art of music and champions the interests of the music profession with an independent voice. Members are protected with an unparalleled legal advice service and many other supporting professional benefits.
The ISM’s membership of 6,500 includes performers, composers, music educators and music industry professionals. The ISM has over 100 corporate members from across the sector including the Association of British Orchestras, Classic FM, the International Artist Managers’ Association, the Music Industries Association, NMC Recordings, the Royal Philharmonic Society, the Young Classical Artists Trust; publishers such as OUP and Schott Music; and, in the field of education, ABRSM, Trinity College London, Yamaha Music, numerous university music departments and all of the UK conservatoires.
Llandaff Choir urgently needs your help!
Wednesday 18 December 2013
The Cathedral Chapter appears reluctant to engage with realistic fundraising options to save the Cathedral Choir.
It now seems likely that the Cathedral Chapter will confirm the redundancies on Friday: A staggering five days before Christmas.
However, you can still help the choir and they need your help today more than ever.
Please send a message of support straight to the Archdeacon today by email: [email protected]
Wednesday 18 December 2013
The Cathedral Chapter appears reluctant to engage with realistic fundraising options to save the Cathedral Choir.
It now seems likely that the Cathedral Chapter will confirm the redundancies on Friday: A staggering five days before Christmas.
However, you can still help the choir and they need your help today more than ever.
Please send a message of support straight to the Archdeacon today by email: [email protected]
Suggested text for an email:
Dear Archdeacon
I am writing to ask the Cathedral Chapter not to sack the professional members of Llandaff’s Cathedral Choir.
The importance of choral music to the cultural, economic and spiritual life of the Cathedral and wider city is immense and any decision to downgrade the Choir in this way would be short-sighted and highly damaging.
This proposal is very puzzling given that the Cathedral recently spent £1.5 million on a new organ, and it is very strange that the Chapter should choose to take this decision just days before Christmas, a time when the value of choral music is particularly clear.
I would urge the Cathedral Chapter to work with the Choir and the rest of the Cathedral community to tackle the deficit by fundraising efforts, rather than by redundancies that will do lasting damage to the musical life of Llandaff Cathedral.
Yours sincerely
As Christmas approaches it is really important that we work together to protect Llandaff’s Cathedral Choir.
If you receive a reply, you can share it with [email protected].
If you receive a reply, you can share it with [email protected].
Hope for Llandaff Choir!
ISM welcomes Llandaff Cathedral’s stay of execution over plans to sack all the adult members of Llandaff’s Cathedral Choir
The Incorporated Society of Musician’s (ISM) campaign to save the Llandaff Cathedral Choir has secured an extension to the period of consultation for those at risk of redundancy.
Choir members were originally told they might be made redundant as soon as tomorrow (Friday 6 December); the extended consultation is positive news for those whose livelihoods are under threat and for the cultural heritage and wider community of Llandaff and Cardiff.
The ISM, the professional body for musicians, started a campaign in response to Llandaff Cathedral’s plans to make all the professional members of the Choir redundant due to a budget deficit.
The choir, which has appeared twice on the BBC’s Songs of Praise this year, is one of the last cathedral choirs in Wales to employ professional singers.
ISM’s Head of Legal Affairs, David Abrahams, comments: ‘This is great news. The ISM has been calling for an extension to the consultation period and this now gives the Chapter more time to consider the alternatives to redundancy as put forward by the ISM and others.’
The ISM has demonstrated that, with the offers of support from outside bodies, supporters of the Save Llandaff Choir Campaign and the Choir’s own fundraising plans which the Cathedral Chapter acknowledge could raise £36k over the next 12 months, the necessary funds to save the Choir can be found.
ISM’s Chief Executive Deborah Annetts, comments: ‘I’m delighted that the Cathedral Chapter has listened and extended the consultation period. Christmas is one of the busiest times for choirs and should remind us all of the musical, economic, cultural and spiritual value that the professional musicians of Llandaff Cathedral Choir bring to the people of Cardiff and the Welsh nation all year long.’
The ISM will continue to encourage and support the Cathedral Chapter in finding a way forward that avoids redundancies and asks that people still register their support for the choir at http://savellandaffchoir.weebly.com or email pledges of financial support to [email protected]
ISM welcomes Llandaff Cathedral’s stay of execution over plans to sack all the adult members of Llandaff’s Cathedral Choir
The Incorporated Society of Musician’s (ISM) campaign to save the Llandaff Cathedral Choir has secured an extension to the period of consultation for those at risk of redundancy.
Choir members were originally told they might be made redundant as soon as tomorrow (Friday 6 December); the extended consultation is positive news for those whose livelihoods are under threat and for the cultural heritage and wider community of Llandaff and Cardiff.
The ISM, the professional body for musicians, started a campaign in response to Llandaff Cathedral’s plans to make all the professional members of the Choir redundant due to a budget deficit.
The choir, which has appeared twice on the BBC’s Songs of Praise this year, is one of the last cathedral choirs in Wales to employ professional singers.
ISM’s Head of Legal Affairs, David Abrahams, comments: ‘This is great news. The ISM has been calling for an extension to the consultation period and this now gives the Chapter more time to consider the alternatives to redundancy as put forward by the ISM and others.’
The ISM has demonstrated that, with the offers of support from outside bodies, supporters of the Save Llandaff Choir Campaign and the Choir’s own fundraising plans which the Cathedral Chapter acknowledge could raise £36k over the next 12 months, the necessary funds to save the Choir can be found.
ISM’s Chief Executive Deborah Annetts, comments: ‘I’m delighted that the Cathedral Chapter has listened and extended the consultation period. Christmas is one of the busiest times for choirs and should remind us all of the musical, economic, cultural and spiritual value that the professional musicians of Llandaff Cathedral Choir bring to the people of Cardiff and the Welsh nation all year long.’
The ISM will continue to encourage and support the Cathedral Chapter in finding a way forward that avoids redundancies and asks that people still register their support for the choir at http://savellandaffchoir.weebly.com or email pledges of financial support to [email protected]
Media update: Campaign covered in Wales Online and BBC Wales' Good Evening Wales
The campaign to secure a long term future for the Cathedral Choir at Llandaff Cathedral has been reported on in Wales Online and also appeared on Good Evening Wales (listen again, 20 minutes in).
The campaign to secure a long term future for the Cathedral Choir at Llandaff Cathedral has been reported on in Wales Online and also appeared on Good Evening Wales (listen again, 20 minutes in).
An open letter to the Archbishop of Wales and the Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral
It was with the greatest shock, sadness and concern that I read your Media Release yesterday about the financial situation at Llandaff Cathedral.
Clearly, like any other organisation, the cathedral has to live within its means, but it seems to me that it is nothing short of unrealistic to expect 59% of the current deficit to be met from the choral foundation, and it leaves me wondering whether the role of ‘cathedral music’ in liturgy and worship is really valued. I am also astonished and appalled that the decision appears to have been made without prior reference to, or consultation with, the Organist and Master of Choristers.
The decision to ‘slim down’ the choir by removing the salaried back row, and to replace them with ‘adult choristers on an occasional basis for weekend services and special seasons, such as Advent and Christmas’ is as breathtakingly worrying as it is impractical.
It reminds me of that well-known advertisement that ‘a dog is not simply for Christmas, it’s for all time’. What will happen to weekday choral services if these ‘adult choristers’ are to sing only at weekends and on special occasions? Presumably they will end, since there is only a limited repertoire for boys’ voices at Choral Evensong, and furthermore, the boys’ experience will be so dramatically reduced as to make it almost meaningless.
There is also a very real danger that it will be nigh on impossible to recruit and retain sufficient (unpaid) ‘adult choristers’ who would be willing and able to commit themselves to singing practically every weekend and for special services – especially over the Holy Week and Christmas periods which are the very periods you say you wish to have a full choir! It takes time and a consistent experience of singing in a full choir to create and maintain musical standards; it simply cannot be done on an ad hoc occasional basis.
Then there is the question of how the Organist can be expected both to accompany the choir and conduct it, as he will have to if you remove the post of the Assistant Organist. Of course, it would be no problem on ‘unaccompanied’ days, but the vast majority of cathedral music is written for organ accompaniment and really does need both a conductor and an organist. I am afraid, therefore, that this is simply an unworkable solution to the problem.
We at FCM have been most impressed by the achievements and standards of your Cathedral choir and, indeed, have made grants in the past (most recently only three years ago) to enable it to maintain and develop its work. I am, therefore, especially sorry to have to write in such strong terms, but I am afraid that your plan to remove the current back row and replace it with ‘adult choristers to sing with the boy choristers in order to keep a choral tradition in the Cathedral’ will not work. You are in serious danger of destroying the well-established choral tradition of your Cathedral to such an extent that it will become totally unsustainable and your enviable choral tradition will be lost for ever.
Clearly, the present financial situation is dire, but even at this late stage, I would urge you to reconsider your decision and, at the very least, allow the Organist and Master of the Choristers and his colleagues sufficient time to see whether they can help you in finding other ways of meeting the deficit.
Professor Peter Toyne CBE
Chairman, Friends of Cathedral Music
It was with the greatest shock, sadness and concern that I read your Media Release yesterday about the financial situation at Llandaff Cathedral.
Clearly, like any other organisation, the cathedral has to live within its means, but it seems to me that it is nothing short of unrealistic to expect 59% of the current deficit to be met from the choral foundation, and it leaves me wondering whether the role of ‘cathedral music’ in liturgy and worship is really valued. I am also astonished and appalled that the decision appears to have been made without prior reference to, or consultation with, the Organist and Master of Choristers.
The decision to ‘slim down’ the choir by removing the salaried back row, and to replace them with ‘adult choristers on an occasional basis for weekend services and special seasons, such as Advent and Christmas’ is as breathtakingly worrying as it is impractical.
It reminds me of that well-known advertisement that ‘a dog is not simply for Christmas, it’s for all time’. What will happen to weekday choral services if these ‘adult choristers’ are to sing only at weekends and on special occasions? Presumably they will end, since there is only a limited repertoire for boys’ voices at Choral Evensong, and furthermore, the boys’ experience will be so dramatically reduced as to make it almost meaningless.
There is also a very real danger that it will be nigh on impossible to recruit and retain sufficient (unpaid) ‘adult choristers’ who would be willing and able to commit themselves to singing practically every weekend and for special services – especially over the Holy Week and Christmas periods which are the very periods you say you wish to have a full choir! It takes time and a consistent experience of singing in a full choir to create and maintain musical standards; it simply cannot be done on an ad hoc occasional basis.
Then there is the question of how the Organist can be expected both to accompany the choir and conduct it, as he will have to if you remove the post of the Assistant Organist. Of course, it would be no problem on ‘unaccompanied’ days, but the vast majority of cathedral music is written for organ accompaniment and really does need both a conductor and an organist. I am afraid, therefore, that this is simply an unworkable solution to the problem.
We at FCM have been most impressed by the achievements and standards of your Cathedral choir and, indeed, have made grants in the past (most recently only three years ago) to enable it to maintain and develop its work. I am, therefore, especially sorry to have to write in such strong terms, but I am afraid that your plan to remove the current back row and replace it with ‘adult choristers to sing with the boy choristers in order to keep a choral tradition in the Cathedral’ will not work. You are in serious danger of destroying the well-established choral tradition of your Cathedral to such an extent that it will become totally unsustainable and your enviable choral tradition will be lost for ever.
Clearly, the present financial situation is dire, but even at this late stage, I would urge you to reconsider your decision and, at the very least, allow the Organist and Master of the Choristers and his colleagues sufficient time to see whether they can help you in finding other ways of meeting the deficit.
Professor Peter Toyne CBE
Chairman, Friends of Cathedral Music
Letter from the ISM to the Archbishop of Wales
Thursday 14 November 2013 Dear Archbishop, Llandaff Cathedral Choir is the last professional Anglican choir in Wales. The choir has a reputation for making choral music of the highest quality and contributes significantly to the cultural life of Cardiff and Wales. The recent £1.5m rebuilding of the Cathedral Organ demonstrated the Chapter’s commitment to maintaining Llandaff as a centre of excellence for church music in Wales. We are therefore deeply concerned to read of the Cathedral Chapter’s intention to make the professional members of the choir redundant. The well known benefits of music to social, educational, spiritual, and community wellbeing do not need restating here in full, but these will risk being lost if this proposed cut goes ahead, as planned. We respectfully request that you reconsider this decision, either by making savings elsewhere in the Cathedral’s budget or by launching a fundraising campaign to secure the future of the Choir. We know that the ISM members at risk of redundancy have already put forward proposals for raising the £45K needed over the next twelve months to pay their salaries. 22 organists from across the country have already agreed to perform at Llandaff without payment, in order to support the fundraising campaign. At the same time our members have drawn up plans for a Choral Foundation Appeal, with the aim of raising a £2m endowment fund over the next five years. This would secure the future of choral music at Llandaff and make a significant contribution towards relieving the Cathedral’s current financial difficulties. We believe these proposals are realistic and deserve your support and the support of the Cathedral Chapter. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, Deborah Annetts Chief Executive Incorporated Society of Musicians [email protected] |
ISM's initial response to proposals to scrap Llandaff's professional choir
Wednesday 13 November 2013
The choir, which has appeared twice on the BBC’s Songs of Praise this year, would lose all its professional singers under the proposals. It is the only professional Anglican cathedral choir in Wales. Richard Moorhouse, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Llandaff and ISM member, said ‘The contribution the professional choir makes to Cardiff is immense. I pray that our discussions with Chapter will lead to an outcome that will allow Llandaff to maintain its reputation for choral music of the highest quality. The professional musicians underpin this excellence, working with others to improve the life of the cathedral and wider community. All options should be considered to help protect this excellent work.’ Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM, said:
‘Professional cathedral musicians make an enormously valuable contribution to sustaining the cherished tradition of choral music across the country. The capital city of Wales deserves better than this. Llandaff has a reputation for making choral music of the highest quality; it is therefore absolutely critical that every effort is made to maintain the professional Cathedral Choir at Llandaff – ensuring that the economic, spiritual, social and musical value that the Choir brings to the Cathedral and the City of Cardiff is not lost. The Archbishop and Chapter must reverse this decision or risk far-reaching and long-term damage to music in Wales.’ The ISM, as the professional body for musicians, has written to the Archbishop of Wales asking him to reconsider the proposed cuts to the professional choir.
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Llandaff Cathedral's initial press release
Monday 4 November 2013 For reasons of balance, we are keen to ensure that the Cathedral Chapter's perspective is available. This is the press release issued by the Cathedral on 4 November 2013. Cathedral tackles budget deficit Llandaff Cathedral is planning a financial overhaul to protect the future of its ministry. It is taking action to increase income and reduce expenditure in order to tackle a significant budget deficit. Parishioners have already been asked to increase their weekly giving and cutbacks have been made to save on energy bills and staffing costs. Now the Dean and Chapter are proposing slimming down the Cathedral Choir in order to save nearly £50,000 which would significantly cut down the anticipated deficit of £81,000. Seven men – five lay clerks, one choral scholar and the assistant organist– are at risk of redundancy and will be invited to take part in consultation meetings over the next few weeks. It is proposed that a budget be kept to pay adult choristers on an occasional basis for weekend services and special seasons, such as Advent and Christmas, to sing with the boy choristers in order to keep a choral tradition in the Cathedral. A spokesperson for Llandaff Cathedral said, “It is with a very heavy heart that we have taken the decision to put a number of roles in the Cathedral at risk of redundancy. However, we have a duty to be financially responsible and cannot run on a continuing deficit. We have considered all our options very carefully and feel these plans are the best way forward to enable us to save money while ensuring our choral tradition remains as good as it can be, and our music ministry has a secure future.” |